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I use ultralight tent (600 grams + 120 g for the pegs) and I got idea that perhaps I would sleep better in hammock. I wonder what to do about ticks if I use hammock and other insects, that is my major concern. I would use it in short hikes, 3 day ones so there won't be any rain and with combo of down sleeping bag.
What are your experiences?
I personally prefer sleeping in a hammock and try to do so whenever the terrain can accommodate it. A couple things to consider:
Regarding bugs, I use a bug net that surrounds the entire hammock. I like this better than the style that zips into the hammock and just covers the top half. It gives me a lot more living space and I can toss stuff over the side of my hammock when I go to sleep and have access to it in the middle of the night (ex, my jacket/headlamp). I also means when the hammock gets worn out I just have to replace that instead of both. It does add a bit more weight though since it's more mesh material.
Regarding temperature, hammocks are cold. Very cold. Any slight breeze and you lose a lot of your heat. A single down bag is not enough. Since down you are top of gets crushed, so you'll either need a wide camping pad, or even better an underquilt. A tarp, even when it isn't raining, can be nice for cutting down heat loss to wind. But a tarp adds weight, you lose pretty views, and have one more thing to setup.
I made a field test and I can say that sleeping in a hammock doesn't suit me. Ultra light tent is way better for me.
Like @noah said, hammocks are cold. Even in normal temperatures, warmly dressed and using down sleeping bag I felt very cold for 2 nights and I slept very little. Terrible. The problem was the bottom, even if i used survival foil between sleeping bag and hammock. In some places the down is crushed more and I got cold spots.
If I use tent, sleeping pad and the same down bag I feel more than enough warm.
Using mummy sleeping bag and hammock is very unpractical. It is hard to get into in, close the zippers,...
My setup: 1p tent, pegs, sleeping pad, down bag is: 1,6 kg(3,5 pounds). I thought I would save some weight with hammock. Hammock setup: Hammock, ropes, down sleeping bag = 1,1 kg (2,4 pounds).
In my experience it is much better to carry a little more and sleep in a tent with sleeping pad. 0,5 kg less weight is not worth it.
I can say the good thing is more pristine wilderness experience, wild animals near you:) I think that mosquitos were not a problem. I used cheap mosquito net from the supermarket just to cover the face.
So tent is my choice. Hammock is way too cold. Perhaps I would use hammock for more static vacation, if I would spend sometime near beach, drink beer, lie down and could carry extra weight for blankets,.. I hike a lot so in my case the tent is way better for me.
